Adia, Scientist

King's Explanation

 "Worry about how our Region will survive War consumes my thought. As it does that of Seventh Galaxy Minister, Cevit Ion, who shall travel here soon. Ry'nao, our emperor, comes also out of his concern for D'gharr and the people of the Areon Hub."

"The Emperor is coming to Areon? How can a man so busy find time for us?" Derees shook his head.

Ryee smiled. "O, he has many concerns that are vital to the Seven, but the War is his main priority. Ships and armies come of trade, and are the responsibility of worlds. The Unified and The Alliance are trade networks.

"He comes ne to Areon, but he sends Cevit Ion, Seventh Galaxy Minister here to discuss trade with Areon's government."

We all saw him standing before a council, but not Areon's. These nine men and women were Zheien.

I thought a galactic minister must be old, but this man had light brown hair that swept across his forehead. Bright yellow skin. Ryee's was deep yellow orange. His smile and graceful gestures made me forget that his fingers were rectangular as Ryee's. Both feet, the same shape as his sleek hands. Striking blue eyes.

And, the place. Nine walls rose to a dull point high above the men and women. Translucent blue threw rainbows all about. Beyond them, people walked. Some traded items along a wall. Children played. Such beauty! The deep blue walls had purple fire in them, the same material of the platters. This is the Council Of Zheiea.

"Our Hub needs ships, and Areon has the largest shipbuilding facility here. Aandat trade is also vital. If we are to survive, Areon must expand trade moreso than she does.

"Instead of spending my respite with my family, I came to you. All of us must work together.

"You see my trading for my kingdom and my emperor, for the war effort. Even now, my people prepare to send what we can to D'gharr, as do all the worlds of the Seven." We all stared at ships rotating in the holo, and more appeared. The date on the larger holos was this morning. Diff shapes and colors. Some smooth, featureless. Others had knobby extrusions, boxes with buttons, dents in odd places.

"Eriganh, Emperor of the Six, has ships that can vaporize worlds and extract elements. He does this to every world he occupies! We fear for the people of D'gharr, who even now are boarding slaver ships." Featureless silver saucers had open hatches. Black-robed guards shoved people in lines to board.

As they entered these lines, they gave up their clothing and shrugged into gray tunics that barely covered knees. Great piles of clothing and terminals lay on either side of lines of people. Elshars colonized D'gharr long before Areon became our colony. I watched this scene from his mind in horror. This is the fate Areon will see?

"Other worlds beg for fuel and ships, that they may leave. Areon has the capacity to supply them ships, but fuel is the problem for the 517 worlds of Areon Hub!"

Vonn startled. "We have so many worlds using our Hub? Is this why space is so limited, even for alt storage?" He pushed his hair off his brow.

"Ea. Many of these worlds joined the Alliance recently, for fear of Eriganh. All worlds of our Hub contributed so that Areon could build five shipbuilding facilities on the outer worlds of your star system. These are near completion and Areon prospers because of the trade they bring." Five? No one told us Areon had other facilities besides Eicken!

"This is why Areon can ne use the outer worlds for data storage now. Cevit Ion hopes to convince Areon to expand biome storage and use our Hub, on Ye~. We have much capacity and is easy to extend! Unified Hubs are designed for expansion, even sudden expansion where there is need." Ye~ has a Hub?